Theft-alarm for automobiles



H. A. BEALL.

THEFT ALARM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. 19:8.

1 INVENTOR By fl/d/WA 5604 Patented June 24, 191$).

A TTOR/VE Y HIRAM A. BEALL, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

THEFT-ALARM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 24, 1919.

Application filed July 22, 1918. Serial No. 245,997.

I f T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM A. BEALL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Theft- Alarms for Automobiles and I do declare thefollowing to be a. full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification. I

This invention relates to theft alarm for automobiles and the like. Oneof the objects of the invention is to provide an alarm which willnormally remain inoperative but which may be set for operative positionat the will of an authorized person. The machine is so arranged thatafter having been set, the alarm will be sounded should an unauthorizedperson attempt to start the vehicle.

In the drawings:

Figure I is a fragmentary perspective view of a motor vehicle to whichmy invention is applied.

Fig. II is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the alarmoperating mechanism casing, the steering post for the motor vehiclebeing shown in elevation.

Fig. III is a sectional View on the line 3 of Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a detail perspective View of a pair of contacts and thespreader therefor.

Fig. V is a fragmental Perspective view of the spreader actuator.

Fig. VI-is a diagram-matical View of the alarm circuit, the contacts andthe alarm.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference:

1 designates a steering post of a motor vehicle which may be operated bythe usual hand wheel 2. Secured to the foot board 3 of the motor vehicleis a casing 4 containing a partition 5 to provide an upper chamber 6 anda subjacent chamber 7, in the latter of which is shown a secondarybattery 8.

' 9 and 10 are contact arms pivoted to the partition 5 at 11 andthesevarms carry con tacts 12 and 13. 14 is a support for the resilientarms 15 and 16 which-bear against the outer edges of the contact arms 9and 10,

so that the tendency is for the contacts 12 and 13 to come together.

On the steering post 1 is a two part spreader actuator, consisting ofthe members l7 and 18 clamped to said steering post 1 by fasteningdevices 19. The spreader actuator is shown as comprising a disk havingin its upper face a circumferential groove 20 and within the inner edgeof the groove is a circular series of pockets or recesses 21. Above thespreader actuator is a yielding plunger 22 against which one end of acoil spring 23 bears, the other end bearing against a collar 24 fastenedon the steering post 1.

25 designates a contact spreader having a bifurcated portion 26 adaptedto straddle the steering post 1. The spreader is provided with an offset27 having a depending pin 28 extending therefrom and an upstandingspreader finger 29 which when inserted between the arms 9 and 10 willprevent the contacts from coming together and sounding the alarm. Underordinary conditions the pin 28 will rest in the groove 20 of thespreader actuator with the finger 29 between the arms 9 and 10. Thus theauthorized person may manipulate the steering gear without in any wiseaffecting the alarm because the pin 28 will ride idly in the ove.

When the device is to be used for the purpose of safety so as to preventan unauthorized person from manipulating the steering mechanism, anauthorized key 30 will permit access to be had to the casing 4 byunlooking the door 31. The pin 28 may then b lifted out of the groove 20and inserted in one of the openings 21. The door 31 is then looked andthe mechanism is set for operation.

In the event that some unauthorized person attempts to move the motorvehicle, the steering mechanism will have to be operated and on accountof the pin 28 affording a rigid connection between the spreader and itsactuator, the turnlng of the steering post support.

The conduct/or and 3g) of the electric current will be protected by theconduit 34, thus obviating the liability of the hood being raised andthe wires cut.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new therein, anddeslre to secure supporting the spreader. I

2. In a device of the class descrrbed,' a

pair of contacts for an electrical alarm .circuit closer, a motorvehicle steering post,a contact spreader having a part between thecontacts, a spreader support on said post and means for clamping thespreader to the '-3. In a device of the class described, a pair ofcontacts for an electrical alarm circuit closer, a motor vehiclesteering post, a contact spreader having apart between the contacts, aspreader support on said post and means for yieldingly clamping thespreader to the support. 1

' 4. In a device of the class described, a pair of contacts for anelectrical alarm circuit closer, a motor vehicle steering post, a

contact spreader having a. between the contacts, means rigid ontheg'steering post for normally loosely supporting the spreader andmeans for positively connecting the spreader and supporting means.

5. In a device of the class described, a pair of contacts for anelectrical alarm circuit closer, having a normal, tendency to hear oneagainst the other, a-contact spreader having a part normally between thecontacts, a motor vehicle steering (:post, a spreader support on thesteering post having a circumferential groove and a plurality ofrecesses and a pin on the spreader to selectively engage the. groove andone of the re- 6. In a deviceof the class described, a pair of contactsfor anelectrical alarm circuit closer having a normal tendency to "bearone against the other, a steering post for motor vehicles adjacent thecontacts, a disk rigidly supported by the steering post and havingrecesses therein, a contact spreader having one part normally betweenthe contacts and provided with a bifurcated end straddling the post,said spreader resting upon thedisk and means on the spreader forengaging a recess in the disk.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HI'RAM A. BEALL.

